Guide 518 Thermal Imager

In my opinion, thermal imaging devices are the way people will view the countryside when hunting in the future.

Thermal imaging devices see heat given off from a warm body be that game, foliage, ground or trees; everything has a heat and so is detectable, nothing can hide. This works in day light hours as well as at night, making it doubly useful as a viewing device and it works so well because a heat source however small literally pops out at you on the viewing screen compared to the much colder background fields, trees or farm buildings.

It`s an observation device and because heat is not impeded by thin branches or foliage you can see mice sitting in bushes, rabbits at the mouths of warrens, foxes in corn crops, deer moving through woods or poachers lurking in the under growth.

The IR518 model is available in three models and differs only in image size and detection range. The IR518 B model I had on test offered 30% more viewing than the A model and could detect a human at 600 metres. It weighs less than 0.5 kg without the four AA batteries which it uses and its dimensions are 182x97x68mm, so it is easily held in one hand - aided by a hand strap. The lens is 25mm F 1.0 and offers a good wide field of view, 21.74 x 16.39 degrees with image quality or sensor resolution of 384x288 pixels. It can be switched between black or white heat signature or “Polarity” which is how the “hot” spots are shown on screen - a very useful feature.

A third button operates the 2X digital feature and a fourth button, when pushed once, takes a JPEG image or if held down then released takes video MPEG4 footage.

This is the best piece of kit I have tested in my twenty years of reviewing shooting equipment and is utterly addictive to use, and so useful at spotting game… Even scanning a wood with no heat sources - so you do not waste time sitting waiting for game that is not there.

The Guide 518B Thermal Imager is priced at £4995; for more information and details of stockists, contact Thomas Jacks on 01789 264100 or visit www.thomasjacks.com